Day two in California we find ourselves in Santa Monica. Yesterday we flew into LAX and got a car and drove over to the Queen Mary for our first night here. We have stayed here before and this is the busiest we have ever seen it. They have new management and have built a cruise terminal next door so there are many improvements on the ship. Once here I hardly ever leave the ship as it is a destination in it self. Being hotel guest you have complete run of the ship. Late at night you can explore the quiet engine room or hang off the front of the ship Titanic style. The forward bar called Observation is exactly as it was in 1934 when the ship was launched so of course I had a Corona and Joy her drink of choice Coke. On Friday nights they have 40's night and people show up wearing 40's garb saw a couple here on Thursday.

Friday we went across the harbor and did the aquarium and had a long walking tour of Long Beach. In the evening we drove up to Santa Monica and are staying here at the end of the pier. Third street is for pedestrians only and they have a whole host of street performers and of course the Harry Krishna followers I don't know why but I get a kick out of them and their tambourin playing. Since we blew our food budget on Queen Mary for two days we had dinner at Michelle's favorite place Chipote's and breakfast at Mickie D's. Long day today waiting for fly time tonight as we leave for Tonga at nine not arriving until Tuesday as we lose a day and a 24 hour layover in Fiji. Anyway if we survive each other for the next 24 hours on the plane and airport our next report should be from the Kingdom of Tonga.